Thinking about what would happen if you trimmed your dog’s nails might be like thinking about asking a monkey to sit still while waving a banana in front of him. There might not be much hope. However, if you are up for it and you can get your dog to sit still long enough, you can do it yourself.

It is important to get your dog’s nails trimmed whether it’s done by yourself or Dr. Adney. Long nails are painful for dogs to walk on and can actually create infections if they break. It should be a part of your dog’s regular grooming routine.

Here’s how:

Firstly, supplies. You will need specific clippers for dogs to trim the nails. Most pet stores carry them. A recommended type is the “guillotine clipper.” This type of clipper has a hole for you to put the nail through and has two ends (like pliers) that you squeeze and the end of the nail trims off. Next you will want to get a dog nail-file.

Just like all things, there is a way to do it and there are plenty of ways that it shouldn’t be done. When you are using the guillotine clipper, cut from the top to the bottom, not side to side. It’s important that you cut straight down and don’t actually twist the nail if your dog moves.

As a warning, if you cut too far down on the nail, you can actually cause bleeding that can last for quite a while. It’s important that you simply trim and then file the nail.

If your dog has clear nails you can see where the quick of the nail is. If you cut that, this is actually was causes the bleeding. So, trim before that part! If your dog has black or dark nails, you will not be able to see the quick so just trim a bit off and file it down.

If your dog gets anxious while you are doing this (which will probably happen…most don’t like their paws messed with!) give him or her a treat, reward your pet and take it slow.

If all else fails, you have your favorite vets and staff at Day and Evening Pet Hospital who would be more than happy to help you and your dog. Have fun!

We know that tick and flea prevention is one of the top priorities for any dog or cat owner. Why wouldn’t it be? These little pests are definitely problematic for you and your pet.

There are many products out there which claim to kill and prevent tick and flea infestations. We wanted to share with you our favorite and most highly effective one.

Frontline Plus. It is very simple to use and highly effective. Here is how it works:

When applied, this product kills the adult ticks and fleas and also kills the flea eggs and larvae. By doing so, it kills any chance for the fleas to continue through their growth stages and residence on your pet. Applying it to your dog or cat is also very simple and is done on a monthly basis. The applicator itself is designed for easy application between the shoulder blades of your pet. Here is a slideshow of how to apply it: Click here. Evidence has shown that the product starts killing fleas withing 4 hours of the first application and can kill all of them within the first 12 hours! We have seen how effective this product is and do highly recommend it for your pet’s health and happiness!

Frontline Plus itself is waterproof. It will still work and be effective on your pet if they go for a swim or get a bath. However, your pet does not need to get a bath or go for a swim within 24 hours of the first application. After that first day, he is free to do what he wants!

If you have already been using a different type of preventative, ask Dr. Adney when you can start using Frontline Plus. Also, if your pet is currently on medication for other health issues, ask him if you can start using Frontline Plus along with it before you start the treatment.

Come in and see us and we can answer any questions you may have about this product. Your pet will be happy you did!

Has your dog or cat ever had a case of vomiting or diarrhea? Maybe stomach trouble or other digestion problems? Either chronically or acutely?

Whatever the reason for that digestion upset, when your dog or cat does have that trouble he or she will get an overgrowth of the wrong, abnormal bacteria. We will call this “bad” bacteria. If this goes unhandled and untreated, expect your pet to have future medical problems due to the continuous growth of that “bad” bacteria.

Of course, any treatment for your pet is very specific to your pet’s case. However, it is quite common that the vet will prescribe a probiotic to assist with your dog’s or cat’s digestion issues. What the correct probiotic does is this: It’s like sending an army into your pet to kill all of the “bad” bacteria that has grown AND replaces it with the “good” bacteria.

Probiotics are given as a prescription specifically for your pet. There are different types of probiotics so it is important your pet gets the right one. Home “remedies” such as yogurt for your pet do not accomplish the same end result. It just isn’t the correct replacement of “good” bacteria your pet needs and doesn’t fully handle the problem.

Certain cases will require an antibiotic as well as a probiotic. Depending on the severity of the case, an antibiotic is used to kill off “bad” bacteria. The antibiotic itself does not replace itself with “good” bacteria. That is why a probiotic would also be prescribed because it does replace itself.

If you notice your pet having digestive trouble, ask Dr. Adney about probiotics. They will assist your pet in becoming more comfortable and put you at ease, knowing that your pet is healthier…and your floors will be cleaner!

Having plants in your home and around the house makes for a beautiful picture. Bright, beautiful colors and smells of blooming flowers add to the decor and liveliness of your home. If you have pets, particularly dogs or cats, there are some plants you need to be aware of and keep out of reach from your pet. By doing so, you will not only save visits to the vet, but in some cases save your pet’s life.

For those of you who have dogs or cats who tend to chew on your floor plants as they walk by, here are some common toxic plants and their symptoms you should know:

Poinsettia: can cause irritation to your dog or cats mouth and can induce vomiting.

A variety or Lilies: Peace Lily, Giant Dracaena or Palm Lily, Calla Lily, Lily of the Valley, Amaryllis, Clivia Lily can cause severe irritation and swelling of oral tissues and the GI tract. They can induce vomiting and diarrhea, salvation and low blood pressure. It is recommended that you keep these beautiful plants out of reach of any dog or cat.

Black Walnuts: If you have a walnut tree in your yard and the walnuts drop, the walnuts themselves are not poisonous at that time. They do become poisonous when they start to decompose and grow mold. If your dog ingests these, the walnuts can induce seizures. The simple remedy is to rake them up routinely or just stay away from them if you are in a park for a walk.

Azalea: These are highly toxic. They are mostly found outside in landscaping. If your pet ingests these, there are serious side effects such as loss of appetite, weakness, paralysis and in some cases, coma or death.

Daffodils: The most toxic part of this plant is the bulb. However, if these are at all ingested expect vomiting, diarrhea and possible heart problems.

Ivy: This plant is also poisonous. Ingesting this plant gives vomiting and diarrhea, stomach pains and salvation.

Click here for a complete list of other toxic plants. It includes pictures.

If your pet has any of the named symptoms or you know your dog or cat ingested a toxic plant, call us right away for immediate treatment.

It’s getting to be that time of year…80 degrees and the dogs want to play!

There are many dog beaches and dog parks for you and your pet to enjoy. Exercise for your dog, allowing him to stretch his legs and run around is good for him. Here are some parks we found that are in the area. We recommend them. Spend a couple hours outdoors, get to meet some new friends and have a good time!

Chesnut Park Paw Playground2200 East Lake RoadPalm Harbor, FL

This dog park has fenced in areas where your dog can run free and not require to be leashed. The park includes stations where your dog can drink and cool off!

Crest Lake Dog Park201 Glenwood Ave.Clearwater, FL

This dog park has three gated areas allowing you to unleash your pet into the play areas that are over an acre in size! Each area has benches, the park provides doggy-bathroom supplies, the park includes stations where your dog can drink and cool off and they have pads for you to wash your dog’s paws so he is all clean when you are ready to leave.

Enterprise Dog Park2640 Enterprise Road EastClearwater, FL 33761

There were many reviews online about this park–one included that this park was the Disney World of Dog Parks. It would be worth checking out! A little more about this park is that they have 2 fenced in areas where your dog can play leash-free. One area even has an exercise course for your dog. This park also provides doggy-bags and trash receptacles. They provide watering stations and hoses to clean your dog off before you get back in the car.